LLEW O'BRIEN MP

Federal Member for Wide Bay

Working for Wide Bay

Gympie’s CBD will get fresh lease on life with $1.5 million in funding won for the Upper Mary Street Precinct Revitalisation Project, Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

Mr O’Brien said the long-awaited project to upgrade infrastructure in the historic heart of Gympie would become a reality thanks to the funding provided through the Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.

“The Upper Mary Street Precinct Revitalisation Project will give a face lift to an iconic part of the city of Gympie, and create significant economic, community and social benefits,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It will transform Mary Street into a green, leafy, vibrant precinct with alfresco dining, improved parking, and better access for pedestrians, becoming a welcome attraction for new business and tourism.”

The revitalisation will include new street furniture, moving power lines underground to improve the visual aspect, extensive tree planting, atmospheric lighting and public art reflecting Gympie’s gold mining past.

Mr O’Brien said the Building Better Regions Fund had received more than 500 applications, and about 100 were approved.

“We have fought hard to bring the Upper Mary Street Revitalisation Project to fruition, and I am delighted it will now be delivered.”

"I congratulate the Gympie Regional Council for their vision, and look forward to working with them to deliver this fantastic project.”

Gympie Regional Council advises 38 full-time equivalent jobs during the construction process and 19 long-term jobs will be created.

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said she created the Building Better Regions Fund to help build strong communities for decades to come.

"I aim to help build the kinds of regional communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and projects like this one do exactly that," Minister Nash said.

Minister Nash said she expected to open another round of BBRF before the end of the year.

Minister Nash will announce the successful applicants for funding under the BBRF’s Community Investments Stream – for projects designed to support a range of local capability-building activities – in the coming months.